']]}Juventus reach the derby in the best possible way. Ficcadenti's Reggina were trounced after a game where the home team dominated as they pleased. The first half ended with no goals, thanks to Reggina’s ever-excellent keeper Campagnolo, but then Ranieri's team exploded in the second half. Legrottaglie, Salihamidzic, Trezeguet and Palladino all scored. The final result was 4-0, which meant three points more for the table, but most of all two points recovered on Roma, who couldn't win in Florence. And Sunday it's time for Torino, beaten tonight at Parma.
Three days after the draw in Rome and three before the derby, Juventus had a mid-week game to play. The Olimpico welcomed Reggina for a game that needed to be won, to keep up the pace in the League. The matches’ closeness convinced Ranieri to shuffle things around. Iaquinta didn't play due to fatigue. Del Piero, Nedved, Chiellini and newly fit Almiron joined Grygera and Olivera on the bench. On the pitch, in front of Buffon, the defence saw Birindelli play with Legrottaglie, Criscito and Molinaro; Nocerino, Zanetti, Tiago and Salihamidzic in midfield; and up front, Palladino was paired with Trezeguet, who had just been given a bonus by the Club thanks to his 100th goal in Serie A, scored on Sunday.
Juventus knew that it was important to start the match at full steam. Palladino took a free kick, and Legrottaglie's header from just a few feet forced a save from Campagnolo. Barely seconds later, Tiago made a great pass for Palladino, who couldn't reach the ball by inches. The Portuguese player wanted to leave his mark and he gave another good ball to Trezeguet, but the Frenchman was offside.
The Bianconeri kept on attacking but the half ended without a single goal. The reason for this was mostly Campagnolo, who saved on Trezeguet with his heel and then immediately after saved a long range shot by Nocerino. There was a goal after 26 minutes, but when Trezeguet converted from an excellent Nocerino-Tiago combination, he was offside - even though the position was questionable. The Frenchman was in the spotlight again after 37 minutes, when Palladino headed the ball towards him but Campagnolo made a miracle. The same happened after 41 minutes, when the Reggina keeper saved on the Frenchman after a Legrottaglie pass. The first half ended 0-0; the Bianconeri surely deserved more.
In the second half Juventus fully made up for the chances they missed in the first half within minutes of the kick off. Two corner kicks and two goals. On 48 minutes Legrottaglie was quick in front of goal and netted the opener. On the next corner kick, Campagnolo made yet another extraordinary save, and it was up to Salihamidzic to double the score.
Basically, this double whammy floored Ficcadenti's team. Reggina's forwards, almost invisible in the first half, would now have to try and achieve the impossible, but Criscito and his team mates in defence had no problems controlling them. In any case, the home team had no intention to leave the initiative in the guests’ hands. They kept looking for the third goal with Trezeguet, who almost scored. The French striker finally won his personal match with Campagnolo, netting a goal after an individual run, started by a Tiago pass.
At this point, with victory ensured, Ranieri was free to change things around. Salihamidzic and Buffon had slight physical problems and left their places to Olivera and Belardi, both players making their seasonal debut. It was a significant moment particularly for the keeper, as he’s played for Reggina for many years. The Uruguayan player tried a personal run, ending it with a shot from outside of the box, but the ball went high. Belardi saved a Cozza free kick, given due to a Zanetti foul, which earned him the first yellow card of the match. Cascione was also booked a little later. Before Celi signalled the end, Lanzaro was booked too and most importantly Juventus scored the fourth goal, Palladino crowning his excellent performance in the best possible way. It ended 4-0: the best possible way to prepare for Sunday night’s derby.
JUVENTUS-REGGINA 4-0 (0-0)
GOALS: Legrottaglie 48 mins, Salihamidzic 50 mins, Trezeguet 76 mins, Palladino 91 mins.
JUVENTUS: Buffon (Belardi 60 mins); Birindelli, Legrottaglie, Criscito, Molinaro; Nocerino, Zanetti, Tiago, Salihamidzic (Olivera 78 mins); Palladino, Trezeguet.
Subs not used: Grygera, Chiellini, Almiron, Nedved, Del Piero.
Manager: Ranieri.
REGGINA: Campagnolo; Lanzaro, Stadsgaard, Aronica, Modesto; Barreto (Tognozzi 69 mins), Cascione, Hallfredsson; Joelson (Cozza 80 mins); Amoruso, Ceravolo (Montiel 61 mins).
Subs not used: Novakovic, Cherubini, Missiroli, Vigiani.
Manager: Ficcadenti.
REFEREE: Celi from Campobasso.
YELLOW CARDS: Zanetti 85 mins, Cascione 89 mins, Lanzaro 89 mins.
NOTES: attendance 19,050 (€ 384,195.22 take).
Refer : Juventus.com